DIGGING

Thanks to Tara-Lynn of good night, day, who blogged recently about these amaze-balls patchwork dresses. I can't quite explain why i love them so much, but mannn, i do. I think it is the combination of simple shift dress that i have been so very much digging of late (as previously blogged about), with a nod towards the wonderful world of patchwork and quilting (or at least, that is my opinion). 

The first two are those that Tara-Lynn featured herself, and the rest are ones that i picked out as honourable mentions from the Maryam Nassir Zadeh website. I feel that these lovely dresses have entered my world at just the right time, as what with uni soon finishing for the semester (two weeks and counting!), my mind is firmly set on sewing, and all the possible things i can make as soon as i have the time. And as i am also a lazy person by nature, i have decided that the first thing on the list will be another shift dress, as i know the pattern and know how it will turn out. 

But more on that laters. Lets just sit back and enjoy the prettiness shall we?

I HEART DAISO

Who could resist the combination of Japanese aesthetic and a $2 shop? Well, i should say $2.80 shop. Yes, I have fallen under the Daiso spell. For those of you not in the know, Daiso is an 'everything store', sort of recent to Australia. It is brilliant. Mind you, I have always had a soft spot for the cheap warehouse concept store. Reject Shop, Sam's Warehouse (known to all the Valley peeps out there), hell, even Aldi, if you can count it as one. 

I suppose my love of these places could be said to be linked with my love of the Op-Shop, as they're both places full of cheap crap, whereby you have to do a little digging before you uncover a gem. 

Perhaps i am not exactly doing the best for the environment, buying into this highly plastic world, but a girl has her weakness alright! 

Anyhoo, as there hasn't been much opshopin' of late (haven't been home to the Valley in agggessss), Daiso has filled the void. 

Now let us enter the colourful plastic world of cheapness

 first trip, a few weeks back

drink bottle (with cup!), cedar spoon and spatula thing, cup and saucer

tres cute, perfect for un cafe!

for Agatha

Agatha showing off her new collar (matches her eyes!)

glittery orange hairbrush, just because

spoon in its new home

In other news, as you may have figured out from above references, i got a cat! Attempt number two. Let's just say that my previous attempt resulted in living with a devil kitten. So cute to look at, but beyond ferocious (i still have the scars, six months later). Agatha came from the Lost Dogs Home in North Melbourne. She was begging to be taken home (i was told she had been with them for ages. She wasn't as playful as the other cats, but she loves a good head scratch). 

The end. 

TOO MUCH EGYPTIAN, NOT ENOUGH SEWING

Hi y'all. 

It has been a bit quiet here for the past couple of weeks. Alas uni has once again got the better of me. Currently am bogged down with research for an Egyptian essay (debating the nature of Middle Kingdom sculpture as naturalistic portraiture or idealistic representation). And then in any spare time (read: time procrastinating), i've been watching a lot of British crime drama Scott & Bailey. Suffice to say, there hasn't been much happening worthy of blogging about. 

It is a good thing then that my friend Elizabeth has been doing much nicer stuff (and blogging about it), so i can live vicariously through her for the time being.  

Oh and these handsome gents are who i've had my eyes on of late...

Senwosret III

King of the XIII Dynasty

Amenhotep III in the Blue Crown

All works on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. 

RINGWOOD LIVING

I honestly wouldn't normally associate the Melbourne outer eastern suburb of Ringwood with notions of style and design brilliance (hey, I'm a Moe girl born and bred, I am very acquainted with suburban/country town average-ness). So when I came across the house of Simone and Rhys Haag (from The Design Files, via Miss Moss), I was quite blown away and in total awe of their lovely, lovely home. 

Here are a few pictures, for your own viewing pleasure, all courtesy of The Design Files)

I very very much like the wood paneling - kind of beachy, kind of Scandi 

I love the nook for the free-standing oven. I also love how it is tiles (i do love tiles...)

Brilliant shelving. 

Great sink (and tiles, of course)

Leather door handles? Yes please. 

Beautiful colour combinations

LATELY #2

Nothing of particular significance has been happening lately, at least, not enough to dedicate a whole post to. So instead, here is a pictorial round-up of whats been happinin' in my little world lately...

admiring armchairs

buying a couch

and a bookshelf/tv unit

and a 'bar'

picked this bad boy up op shopping in Barwon Heads the other day with a friend. this brings my shirt tally (since last posting about them) from 2 to 7

saw this set, but alas, didn't purchase. kind of regretting it

baked my first loaf of bread!

did some study (am not much of a poster-on-wall person, but studying an ancient language means lots and lots of colour coded posters...)

selling stuff on ebay! please feel free to go buy something!

finally a picture of the finished quilt (Helen, this is for you!). has been required the past few nights, as has been quite chilly

collecting various shades of red lipstick and an Egyptian motif ceramic container from my late grandmother

getting these beauties ready for walking

and these gorgeous coats ready for wearing

(would you believe that 4 out of these 6 coats came from op-shops? Well, perhaps from their style you could...they probably all came to no more than $30 altogether! Man i love it when the hard work pays off!)

And that's about it!

THE VERY BEST GRAND DESIGN

Anyone who knows me well knows that i LOVE Grand Designs (I also love Kevin quite a lot too...). And my by far, all time, most favourite episode just happened to be showing on ABC recently, so i thought i would screen-capture the crap out of it so that

a. i could save the images for ever and ever

and 

b. i could share them with you!

This episode features a 30 something interior designer who is able to build the house of her (and my) dreams, on a plot below her mother's house. Beautifully tucked away down a steep driveway, the house is secluded and amazing and wonderful. 

WARNING: this is a very picture heavy post

(oh and sorry about the somewhat blurry images, ABC iview is to blame)

recycled and dud bricks are used cheaply and painted white

the balance of bright white with the silvering cladding 

spacious kitchen dining area (with Kev-Dog too! What a spunk)

bespoke wooden stairs, shelves and bench tops, that wrap around high street drawers and cupboards

lots and lots of lovely open shelving

AMAZING stairs. Hands down my favourite feature

front door leading right into main living area

smart use of book shelves - dividing the room, but keeping the space light and open at the same time

step down into lower level lounge room

lovely little fire place, wonderful parquet flooring and light flooding the room

minimal bathroom

parquet flooring extending to the first floor

wonderful. 

I'd like to move in next week please. 

UPDATE: A good friend pointed out to me that the owner of above house has her own website, and by god, its chock full of her signature awesomeness. Have a look for yourselves

http://www.linea-studio.co.uk/